RESEARCH - MRI of RA image quantitation for the assessment of disease activity, progression and response to therapy

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Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Jan;47(1):13-21. Epub 2007 Nov 28.

MRI of rheumatoid arthritis image quantitation for the assessment of

disease activity, progression and response to therapy.

Hodgson RJ, O'Connor P, Moots R.

MARIARC, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK. Hodgson@...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the direct visualization of

many bone and soft tissue changes in rheumatoid arthritis. Synovitis

volume, bone marrow oedema and bone erosions are suitable for serial

measurement. The outcome measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical

trials (OMERACT) rheumatoid arthritis magnetic resonance imaging

(RAMRIS) system is designed to allow straightforward, reproducible

scoring of all these features. Alternatively, synovial volumes may be

directly and quickly measured using semi-automated techniques. There

is the potential for similar systems for measuring erosions. Dynamic

contrast enhanced MRI depends on the rate of enhancement of the

synovium after intravenous contrast agent. Measurements depend on the

underlying physiology of the inflamed synovium, in particular the

vascularity and capillary permeability which are expected to closely

mirror inflammatory activity in the joint. Measurements from MRI have

been shown to correlate with clinical, laboratory, imaging and

histological measures of inflammation, predict erosive progression and

respond rapidly to various types of treatment. They are, therefore,

expected to be good measures of disease activity, progression and

response to therapy.

PMID: 18045811

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18045811

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